ALBANY — Beating a team once is hard enough, taking down a program twice in a season is always going to be difficult. Unless you’re the Athens Bulldogs.
Matching up with Alexander on the road just over a week after a two-run victory over the Spartans, Athens (15-3, 9-0 Tri-Valley Conference-Ohio) pummeled the baseball en route to a dominant 13-1 victory in five innings over Alexander (6-9, 5-6 TVC-Ohio) in Albany. The Bulldogs would rack up 12 hits on the day in an impressive offensive output.
“It’s never easy for us out here, they had a mindset and the mindset was pretty good today so I was glad to see that.” Todd Nuzum, the head coach of Athens said following the win when asked about bouncing back from the team’s two-game losing skid over the weekend.
Dawson Kennedy would lead the charge at the plate for Athens with a perfect 4-4 day out of the cleanup spot, driving in two runs while scoring a pair. Easton Nuzum would finish 3-3 with three runs and two RBIs in the three-hole while David Sharp drove in two runs on one hit.
Landon Baker would grab a hit and an RBI while Justin Bennet, Brady Wharton and Ryan Cornwell also smacked a hit.
“I think we had more of an approach at the plate, we weren’t swinging at the bad balls. I think we were getting into hitters counts more,” Nuzum noted when asked about the offensive difference from the game against Alexander the week prior. “Setting back and just trying to drive everything through the middle.”
On the mound, Noah Sincoff had another impressive showing despite his start being cut short with the blowout in progress. The rising junior would pick up the win after four innings of two-hit ball, allowing one unearned run while striking out four and allowing one free pass. Jaxon Moore would then finish off the night with a perfect inning in relief.
“Noah is Noah, as long as he’s throwing strikes and changing speeds, his curveball looked good today. He definitely wanted to finish it out but I told him there’s no need to use you with the long week ahead.” Nuzum said with a slight chuckle when talking about the performance of the righty.
Mason Morris would have the only hits for the Spartans in the loss, going 2-2 at the plate with a run scored. Jordan Schulz would have the lone RBI for the team while Sam Ohms was the only other batter to reach base for Alexander, drawing a walk.
Jackson Jordan would get the start on the mound for the Spartans, lasting three innings while allowing five hits, three earned runs while striking out and walking three apiece. Jared Truax would then throw the final two innings of relief, allowing five earned runs while striking out and walking one.
Looking to establish control early after squeaking out a win the week prior, Athens came out hot early and broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Following a single from Nuzum to get a runner in scoring position, Kennedy would rip a comebacker right at the mound, barely missing the glove of Jordan as Baker rounded third to give Athens the slight lead.
With Sincoff dealing on the mound, Athens pounced once again in the third innings to add some insurance runs. After Kennedy doubled to put a pair of runners in scoring position, Sharp would drill a two-run double into left field to add on to the lead. An error from the Spartans’ defense later in the frame would make it a 4-0 game.
The barrage would continue in the following frame. With a pair of men on base and no outs, Baker would drop a single over the shortstop but a misplay in center from Morris would allow a run to come in to extend the lead to five. A couple batters later, Kennedy would rip another RBI hit, scoring Bennett. The Bulldogs would add two more in the frame by way of balk and error, opening up an 8-0 lead.
Alexander would get on the board in the fourth with some crafty play from Morris. Following a single from the junior to get on base, an error on a pickoff attempt would allow him to get all the way to third. Schulz would then ground out to second base, bringing in the run.
Unfortunately for the Spartans, Athens would just continue to pour on the scoreboard in the next half-inning. RBI singles from Nuzum and Kennedy mixed in with a couple more errors from Alexander’s defense would help drive a five-run fifth inning, making it a 13-1 game.
Moore would then set the Spartans down in order in the fifth to secure the mercy rule victory, setting up an opportunity for Athens to win the division on Wednesday.
“We want to bring back the TVC-Ohio division title. Our mindset is to get that and try to win every TVC game we can. Hopefully we can win our next three.”
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